As the City of Gulf Shores has grown, many of the life safety departments have operated from the same crowded facilities they have used for decades. With the construction renovations to the Justice Center and a Fire Training Facility, resident can expect completion by next summer.

The City of Gulf Shores reports solid progress on two major public safety construction efforts. The Justice Center project aims to bring the Police Department, Jail, and Municipal Court operations into one modern complex. City officials say the work is moving forward across several components. A separate Fire Training Facility program is also advancing with new training structures and live fire readiness.

Project leaders noted specific timeline and status details in this month’s updates. As of October 2025, sitework for the Justice Center is about halfway complete. The overall Justice Center project remains on track for completion in summer 2026. The four-story training tower at the Fire Training Facility is under contract with completion set for next spring.

The Justice Center is located at the former Sacred Heart Medical Office Building site on Medical Village Boulevard. City staff said the centralized complex will improve efficiency by housing police operations, detention, and municipal courts under one roof. The location’s existing footprint is being adapted and expanded to meet modern public safety needs. Work is proceeding in phases to keep the schedule aligned.

Site preparation for the Justice Center includes earthwork and utility installation. Most underground utilities are in place, and crews have started parking area work and lighting. Landscaping has not begun. The sitework milestone sets the stage for vertical construction and exterior systems.

The Vehicle Storage Building at the Justice Center has moved into late exterior stages. Its foundation and steel framework are complete. Exterior walls and roof are nearly finished. Interior buildout is underway to support fleet and equipment operations.

Renovation of the main building is at a steady midpoint. Most mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are installed. Roofing is nearly complete. Interior framing and drywall installation continue on multiple floors.

Work on the detention facility is in its early phase. The foundation is complete, and structural steel is mostly in place. The floor slab has not been poured. Exterior and interior construction will begin after the slab is completed.

City officials say the consolidated Justice Center will modernize public safety infrastructure. The aim is to streamline workflows between patrol, investigations, court functions, and detention. The centralized layout is designed to reduce delays and improve security. The schedule continues to target a summer 2026 opening.

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At the Fire Training Facility, civil and sitework are complete. Crews finished grading and underground utilities to prepare the grounds for new structures. Four pole barns have been erected to support specialized training and storage. These include a confined-space barn, an enclosed storage barn, a training pavilion with restrooms and an IT closet, and a barn for trailer storage.

The burn building is finished except for the second-story burn room. That upper burn room is scheduled for completion by early 2026. Training has already begun in the building, with several courses conducted for fire crews. Joint automatic-aid training with Foley and Orange Beach has also taken place.

This week, the department conducted its first live burn at the site. The session trained Live Fire Instructors on control room operations and burn set procedures. Crews observed how the structure responds to heat during live scenarios. With instructor training complete, live burns can now be scheduled for each shift.

The contract for the four-story training tower has been awarded. Completion is set for next spring, supporting ladder work and high-angle drills. The Trench Rescue training prop is also moving ahead. Its foundation is on track to be finished in November.

Once the foundation cures, containers for the trench prop will be secured. Trench rescue training will begin after installation. The added capabilities are expected to expand multi-company training. They also support regional coordination with neighboring departments.

City officials say the combined progress strengthens readiness for police, court, and fire services. The two projects are designed to meet the needs of a growing community. As work continues, the city plans to update residents on next steps. Further milestones are expected as major structures are completed and interior systems are commissioned.